This page www.a-1-8.org: /Docs/activeunit/10-1hearing.php last modified on April 12, 2005 10:42 AM
| A-1-8 Chapter of the 4th Infantry Division |
Active Unit News
What our families are hearing:
Bob Babcock - "Deeds not Words"
President, Americans Remembered, Inc. - http://www.americansremembered.org
President, 22nd Inf Regt Society - http://www.22ndinfantry.org
Past President/Historian - Nat'l 4th Inf Div Assn - http://www.4thinfantry.org
babcock224@aol.com
Click to Send us your news
What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) We heard from our son Sunday the 28th he is with the 1-22 out of Fort Hood. He was on R&R he was swimming and eating up a storm (crab legs & steak). He was in heaven!!! He is doing well but his platoon is moving soon and they except their jobs to become more intense. We are counting down the days until his return and the safe return of all the soldiers. GOD BLESS THEM.
2) I just received a letter from my son yesterday. He is with 4ID 1/22 HHC IN BN. I had read that others were sending questionairres to the soldiers, so I started sending a fill-in-the-blank type form to him. That is what he sent back. Thanks for the great ideas from everyone in the newsletter! He sent the names of all the guys in his unit, answered specific questions as to what I might send, cheap fabric band watches, oreos, battery operated razor, another camera and large mailing envelope to send the disposable cameras back in. I also asked what he did in his leisure time, etc (sleep and read) to give me an idea of what his day is like. It made me cry to see his handwriting again. It's amazing how much you can miss the little things.
3) I just got off the phone with my husband (F Trp/1-10 Cav). We do not get to speak very often, satellite phones being what they are, do not always work! Other than always sounding very upbeat, all he needs are, new underclothes, Copenhagen, and letters from home. We started sending him micro cassettes of the boys just talking to him, and he has listened over and over to them, he tries to be as diligent in talking in to his own micro-recorder that we sent him, but the noise level where they are often interferes with his recording, so that when he plays it back, he can barely hear what he has said to them! We spoke about the Mid-tour leave, and because we have had some experience with mid-tour leaves, we opted not to put his name on the list. The effect that it had on our youngest when he returned from Korea after being separated from him for 8 months, and then returning barely 3 weeks later, was downright heart wrenching. When my husband returned home to PCS to here, the boys had a tough time with him just stepping out of the room without either breaking out into tears. I do believe that this is when we make our toughest decisions, knowing the right thing to do, and having to spare instant celebration over long term grief, still doesn’t feel great. Yet we know that any time spent with my husband is invaluable, sometimes the decisions that we have to make tear your heart out. Please keep every soldier and any choices they have made in your prayers tonight and every night.
4) Heard from my son, serving with B. Co., 704th DSB, 4th ID and doing Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) detail up at the Tikrit palace with the 4th MP, via e-mail today. He's going to pass on his two week mid-tour leave and option for the full month leave upon DEROS. Even though he was early on the list account he did Force Protection Detail on the Roll-on/Roll-off ships between Spain and Kuwait and was eligible, he feels that someone, who is married and especially with kids, would be more deserving. Also of note, he caught the Drew Carey show up in Kirkuk yesterday.
5) Getting this e-mail with all the positive in it brings a tear to my eye. My husband of 1-10 CAV 4TH ID e-mailed me the other day saying he'd be -ok- on the mission he was about to go on. He said they're all good and have plenty to do to keep them busy but he can't wait to come home. I'm so excited that it's the halfway mark and we can relax a little bit. Now some of us families who moved to other family members homes can start the planning of moving back to our home with our loved ones. I've never been so excited on planning a move before.
6) It's been since 23 July that I spoke with my son, B Co 204th FSC, and I'm so happy that I'm crying my eyes out. He was in Tikrit for a couple of hours and he said the phones are still broken at Camp Scunion. He sounded so grown up. He said he was doing ok. I'm afraid he was a little too hopeful about the mid-tour leave. I tried to prepare him by explaining the priorities, but I don't think he was listening. One of the movies I sent, "Blade Runner" is a really big hit. He requested Princess Bride and Tank Girl. How am I ever going to sleep now? Thank you so much for these updates! We all appreciate them very much!
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